Callings Part III

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings….” Pro. 22:29

So what is your calling in life? This a question we have been looking at for the past few weeks and though even if we may not have managed this question very well in our own life, we owe it to our children to help them get a sense of leading and vision for their lives. It will be something they will struggle with, and they need some guidance besides Parade Magazine’s annual cover story on “How much do people make?” On the one hand, some people make huge occupational choices based purely on mercenary, economic terms. This is neither Godly nor a good recipe for a lifetime of happy, effective service. On the other hand, some follow their love of esoteric subjects without the slightest consideration for how that study would benefit society or provide a living wage. Somewhere between these poles, sound reason and God’s leading should prevail.

I ended last week with a strong exhortation to encourage hobbies in your children. They can be very valuable tools to awaken interests and inclinations. Unfortunately, playing video games does not qualify as a true hobby. Creating them would. But playing them merely enhances reaction times and visual recognition and demands little in terms of creative interaction. So much of our entertainment-obsessed culture is passive in nature. We need to look for things that awaken one’s sense of curiosity, wonder, and creativity. That can be a battle all in itself. I remember my first homemade telegraph set and the first time I took the head off of a lawn mower engine. Those were signature moments in my youth. Exciting!

But once we awaken a gift and discover a leading, we need to exercise ourselves in those gifts and leadings as “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” This was a source of failure in my life. I could easily have pursued a career as a research chemist if desire was all that was required. It fascinated me. It was something I was suited for in that I loved tinkering, creating, improvising, and working with unknowns. There was one thing lacking, however. I had failed to learn how to be a good student. If grades came easy, I enjoyed success. If I lacked interest or encountered difficulty, I accepted and learned to live with mediocrity. These were habits I learned in high school which became deadly in college. I quickly became disillusioned with chemistry and quit. I desperately needed coaching and encouragement in learning the discipline of applying myself as a “workman” that labors within his craft.

I have since learned that the mastery of every field of study or every basic skill involves a multitude of failures and calls for a disciplined effort to overcome them. Study, practice, patience, dedication, and consistent effort are involved in any calling. Love and a knack for a particular craft or job or skill is not enough. We have to marry that with the proper work ethic and study skills that can enable dreams to become reality. This is what makes learning to be a good student in grades K-12 so important. Whether it be math or learning to mow the lawn, every task involves a basic discipline. Being submitted to one’s teacher and learning accountability are spiritual battles that temper the soul and prepare it for greater things. What is really wonderful is when we meet a great mentor along the way who will communicate excitement for the task, a love of the craft, but also will encourage us through the learning curve, demanding just a little more than we think we are capable of doing. I pray you will think of yourself as that mentor, that coach, that craftsman, that teacher who runs alongside with both excitement and passion for the subject matter but also one who builds the discipline needed to win the prize.

Callings Part II

“You missed your calling.” How often have we used this phrase in a glib manner not knowing what damage we do. The thought that someone could go through life not operating in their gifts can bring terror to a heart, especially an old one. The whole idea of a ‘calling’ upon a life can become a mental straight jacket that binds instead of guides, that spells doom and failure instead of light and freedom. It is a concept that has to be handled carefully, but I think it is worth the risk for all of us, both old and young.

For the young, it is a challenge to desire before the Lord a place and means of service that would be of benefit to God, man, and themselves. We beseech the Lord for guidance in every other matter of life; why not our vocational choices? But it should be more than lip service. We have grown to expect that no person would ever venture into full time Christian service except that they were absolutely sure of God’s call in that respect. Why should we not desire equal certainty when choosing a career as a welder or a car salesman? When we do, we accomplish a couple of things. One, we place this choice of service upon the holiest of ground and make it a matter of great prayer, entreating the Lord with all earnestness. Secondly, we enter upon career preparation with an attitude that our occupation is to be one of service. What a difference this can make when crawling under a car to change a muffler in December. It can transform the most mundane and onerous task into something akin to ministering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name. And we all know quite well the rewards associated with that. Thirdly, when we have a clear sense of calling in our vocation, it imbues us with the strength to endure hardship when it comes. The missionary convinced of his calling is willing to risk everything and endure all. So, too, the teacher who is sure of his calling will be able to endure the associated hardships and survive the times of testing amid a thousand and one discouraging doubts.

So, how does one find one’s calling? For some, they know from the very earliest days of their life. I have always envied them. For most of us, it is not that easy. The Puritans urged each to examine himself to see the providence and leading of God through ‘inward endowments and inclinations,’ ‘outward circumstances which may lead to one course of life rather than another,’ the advice of ‘parents, guardians,’ and to ‘nature, education, or gifts acquired’ all pondered ‘in the balance of sound reason.’ Modern man has perfected dozens of tests to reveal to us our inner gifts and inclinations. They are valuable tools. The advice of parents, trusted friends, teachers, and counselors is probably even more valuable but less utilized. Our culture of ‘rugged individualism’ (“I did it my way.”) has undermined this vital resource. How can we encourage our children to hear our counsel; we who know them best? It is an art to foster from the earliest age. They need us and all that we can tell them only too soon.

‘And education and gifts acquired.’ Here is where we preach the virtues of a well-rounded education that exposes students to subjects and activities they have never before encountered. 7th grade shop class opened up a whole world to me that I never knew existed. I learned to draw and work with wood. It stuck. Important, also, are the hobbies we experiment with at an early age. I did my first creative writing in high school. My basement was a witch’s brew of experiments in chemistry. Model trains taught me electricity. Coin collecting introduced me to history. Chess taught me logic. Reading science fiction gave me a love for science. A gun, a dog, and farm fields to wander imparted a love for nature. And making up high school Bible club skits taught me the joys of creative drama. All for free, and all before college.

Eskimo Run #4 report

There was some on-again, off-again hesitation about this weekend for fear of rain. But then there was the chance of snow so off we went. We ended up going to the Big South Fork area starting near Slave Falls and camping out in the vicinity of Jake's Place (actual location held secret). Sat. was gorgeous with everyone shedding clothing. 9 guys ended up making the trip and a good time was had by all. Most of the crew made it all the way up to the twin arches. Rock formations and views along the way were great. Fires were awesome with a well supplied stock of firewood in 20 minutes within 50 ft of fire pit. Evan's vegetable soup was a hit and all 1.5 gal. went to good use. The evening was fairly balmy and overnight temp. was around 30. Near midnight, a slight drizzle started up but then turned to light dusting of snow by morning. Around 9:00 AM, the snow started in again in more earnest with a total buildup in the back of my truck of about 1.5 " by 1:00 PM. Going out was gorgeous, hiking in the snow, seeing the mixture of green, grey, and white throughout the forest. Jim and I returned home by 3:30. The rest stayed on to do some repelling off of the cliffs near Slave Falls. They returned safely at 6:00.
This marks the 4th consecutive Eskimo Run where snow was encountered either on the ground or fresh falling. Not a bad record. Eat your heart out if you missed it. See you next year.

Callings Part I

“…it is a preposterous and brutish thing to fix or fall upon any weighty business, such as a calling or condition of life, without a careful pondering it in the balance of sound reason.” -Richard Steele, 1684

In last week’s newsletter, I impudently questioned the whole idea of a college education. How ironic that it should come from someone with three such degrees. But I did stress the idea of catching a vision for one’s life. To me it is wisdom to preach the latter rather than blindly follow our conventional cultural stampede, which trumpets the virtues of a college education with no sense of calling upon one’s life. (Our culture presses the value of literacy but has no concept of how that skill should be directed and utilized. Our forefathers taught people to read so that they could, first of all, read the Bible for themselves. Now we teach students to read and offer up a diet of any sensual trash to further their ‘skill development.’ How else do you explain “Rolling Stone” magazine and other such ilk in high school libraries?) Of course, the whole concept of calling has been extensively muddled with time since the Puritans first developed and enunciated this valuable Christian concept. We all have been in church services where someone has come forward to announce they have been ‘called’ into full-time Christian service. Everyone then responds appropriately with enthusiastic ‘amens.’ I have yet to witness someone coming forward to announce that they feel God has called them to be a chicken farmer in South Dakota. I would love to see the perplexed response of the audience if such an event ever transpired. In protestant theology, finding one’s calling as a chicken farmer is just as valid and equal cause for rejoicing as any other.

For the next couple of weeks, I would like to develop the theme of ‘finding your calling’ in these pages. It is a Puritan concept that bears examination and has been largely lost in our time. I, for one, feel that for every one time we mention ‘going on to college’ in conversation with our children (which in our house was quite often), we need to mention ‘vision’ or ‘calling’ just as often or more so. We are bending these young twigs and unashamedly so.

Our first calling is to ‘take hold of the eternal life to which you were called’ (I Tim. 6:12). We are to make sure of our spiritual calling and seek to ‘flee from the wrath to come.’ But after that, we have a temporal calling, a place of service, where we walk in a way that is beneficial to society and ourselves. The second request of the prodigal son was for the father to make him one of his hired servants. It should also be our desire to find a place of service in God’s kingdom. And here is where we often err. The whole Protestant Reformation overthrew the concept of ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ callings. All labor, whether secular or sacred, was thereafter seen as equal before God. To be a monk, nun, or priest was no different than any secular profession as to favor in God’s eyes. As William Tyndale put it, “…there is difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God; none at all.” The Puritans taught that God calls every man and woman to serve Him in some ‘peculiar’ employment in this world, both for their own and the common good.

I love the idea that education and all ensuing occupations are not just private choices to enhance our own status and well-being. We should never applaud a young person who desires to be a doctor because it would bring them wealth and prestige. It must be approached as a place and means of sacred service both to God and to man. Equally so, it should be the same with would-be plumbers, dental hygienists, beauticians, and, yes, chicken farmers. How often do we place vocational counseling in the context of Phil. 2:4, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” If we have not, is it not time?

Vision

There is an ominous story I have been hearing repeatedly which may or may not be what you want to hear. It is in regards to the new economic horizon developing out there in a world some have been calling increasingly “flat” because of the growth of a global economy and the internet. I can tell you stories of young people going off to college and spending four years and considerable treasure to get a degree which is largely unmarketable. They then struggle finding jobs and end up in food service or various entry-level positions they easily could have taken right out of high school. The worst-case scenarios involve students who have accumulated mountainous debt while pursuing that supposedly ‘magical’ college degree.

There are many good reasons for going off to college and pursuing a liberal arts education that never translate into economic well-being. It opens your eyes to another world that exists beyond the level of high school proms and pep clubs. It exposes you to people who think deeply about things and love books and learning on a grand scale. And if pursued successfully, a college education sharpens the mind in countless ways and deepens ones understanding of the world around us. That is never a bad bargain. That is one big reason we urge our students to follow or pursue the university path. We have had no regrets in sending our children off to college, yet I am torn for young people today who feel the pressure to go to college and “amount to something” even if they have no clear vision for their life. Some end up “finding themselves” in college, but far too many pile up nothing but debt and frustration and set themselves up for keen disappointment upon graduation.

The other side of this story involves some very bright and gifted young people who have either shunned or dropped out of college and taken jobs in the general business sector. These Christian young people applied themselves in an honest and forthright manner and soon found themselves prized employees because of their values and work ethic. Before long, they were managers of stores and directors of companies. As cream rises to the top, these young people rise quickly in the ranks if for no other reason then that they don’t steal, do drugs, and lay out of work whenever it pleases them. I can’t help but compare these success stories to those just graduating college encumbered with debt and inflated expectations that can never be realized.

We are living in a changing world. A college degree used to come with guarantees. It no longer does. For those who can afford it without strain and debt, it is seldom a regret. But beware of those who sell college dreams and want you to become their indentured servant for the next ten plus years with easy loan on top of easy loan. It can be as deadly as an internet scam letter. Yes, I want to urge all our students to develop all the academic prowess they possibly can while they are in school and to aim high. But I pray that they will also seek a vision for their life. That comes through reading, working, hobbies, experiences, watching skilled people in action, and seeking the Lord. A young person with a clear vision will overcome all obstacles and not waste time in the process. Secondly, I pray they will develop Godly character. In a world that has lost its way, nothing will ensure success more than just good, Godly character. It will make a way for them when all else fails. One day, the meek shall inherit the earth. How often do I not see them inherit the company when everyone else lives but for themselves.

Ordinariness

“What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” -John 6:28

The evening of Christmas Day found us strangely alone. We are not used to that. Typically we are awash in children and grandchildren. But we were sharing them with their other grandparents and so we went to see a movie. It almost seemed sacrilegious except that we went to see “The Nativity.” It was a beautiful film, and Christmas Day made it even more special. The scriptural highlights of the story were nice enough even though I might have done a few of them differently. But the thing that struck me most was the extent and reality of the “ordinariness” of everyday life that played out between the annunciation and the birth. In between the momentous visitation of Gabriel to Mary and the night of the nativity in Bethlehem were some nine months of cooking meals, fetching water, caring for siblings, and worries about things like taxes and friendships and, oh yes, a betrothal and the appearance of a illegitimate pregnancy. Mary was picked up and hurled out of her innocent and unassuming life into an unavoidable clash with prophecies and cynical public perceptions.

The ensuing turmoil of emotions and obligations continued unabated over the months but bereft of angelic visits or heavenly visions. How often both she and Joseph would have wished for confirmation of what they had heard. It had to be hard to have your world turned upside down with a one-minute sound bite by an angel who then left without a trace or a witness. First you get enough news to stagger a trained theologian and then it is back to milking goats or whatever. Weeks followed after weeks with no further heavenly updates. Just a fading memory of words that had to live in spite of the weeds of doubt springing up and obscuring the view. In the meantime, there were chores to be done, meals to eat, and the ever-present dust of everyday life that dirtied the feet and invaded one’s house.

So we, too, must live out those mundane days of life either clinging to the fading memory of a “burning bush” moment when we heard from God or else desperately longing for another one of those “divine moments” when a light shines out of the heavens or a still, small voice confirms the holy ground of our existence. But in between, there are faucets to fix, garages to clean out, diapers to change, wages to earn, and lunches to make. But we, like the people who tried to keep up with Jesus back and forth across the Sea of Galilee, cry out for higher tasks saying, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Enough with the diapers, lawn mowing, dish washing; we want to soar with the heavenly eagles.

God is the God of miracles, but He is also the God of the mundane. In fact, if we look at His work of creation, He spent one third of the time bringing order out of chaos and another third of the time just creating the conditions for life. I take great comfort in this, for I spend a lot of my time cleaning, organizing, sorting, and building just trying to bring order out of chaos. And then there is the feeding, washing, watering, and working which provides the essential provisions for life. When we look to “do the works of God,” we really do not need to look any farther than the example of Job, one of God’s obvious favorites. Yes, Job, the farmer, who loved God, hated evil, and raised a lot of kids: exhibit “A” in God’s debate with Satan. May you find these mundane January days imbued with the magic of knowing that in the doing of the ordinary, you may be doing the very works of God.